R. Kelly‘s relationship with Joycelyn Savage — one of his alleged brainwashed sex slaves — has done way more than raise eyebrows with viewers of “Surviving R. Kelly” … we’re told it’s caught the attention of the feds.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ … Joycelyn’s dad, Timothy, has been contacted by an FBI special agent regarding the R&B singer at least 5 TIMES in the past year and a half … most recently weeks before Lifetime’s docuseries began airing on January 3.

We’re told Timothy provided the FBI with all the known whereabouts of Kelly and Joycelyn from state to state, starting with where their relationship began, along with text messages or emails.

Our sources say Timothy provided the feds with lots of the same information regarding alleged predatory behavior and physical abuse he gave Lifetime for ‘Surviving.”

The FBI has jurisdiction when an adult brings a minor across state lines for sexual purposes.

It’s unclear if the FBI has launched an official investigation into R. Kelly … but it’s clear the controversy and accusations against him are on the agency’s radar. He’s already under criminal investigation in Georgia.

As we’ve reported … Joycelyn’s family believes Kelly is holding her against her will — something she strongly denies. The 2 were seen shopping together in April 2018, and we caught her out “vacationing” in Beverly Hills back in May without Kelly.

We’ve reached out to the FBI but were told the agency does not confirm or deny investigations.

Photos from insideR. Kelly‘s alleged “sex cult” recording studio in Chicago have just been released … showing proof of code violations and plenty of evidence someone may have been living there.

The photos were taken by Chicago officials when they raided the building on suspicion the unit may be used as a permanent residence. Check out the gallery … it’s a completely bizarre scene inside the studio that was heavily featured in “Surviving R. Kelly.”

During one point in the documentary, the family of one of Kelly’s alleged victims showed up at the property to try and rescue their daughter.

As we reported … the studio was hit with a laundry list of building code violations, and Kelly is being barred from using the space for anything other than a recording studio from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Chris Brown is going on the offensive after his arrest for allegedly raping a woman in Paris, because he’s going to sue her for defamation.

Chris’ Parisian lawyer, Raphael Chiche, says, “Chris Brown is free. No lawsuits were filed against him. He vigorously challenges the charges against him. A complaint for slanderous denunciation will be filed tomorrow with the public prosecutor of Paris.”

As we reported, Chris claims he was set up by the 24-year-old model, who claimed Chris took her to his hotel in Paris and violently raped her. Chris called BS, saying he was never alone with the women. We’re told he insists he was playing music off his iPhone in the living room of the suite with 20 people around him the entire time.

Brown was released from police custody Tuesday, but prosecutors say the investigation is still ongoing. A source in the judicial system of Paris tells TMZ the fact Brown was released with no conditions and free to leave the country is a sign authorities have problems with the case.

Chris Brown allegedly raped a woman in a hotel dressing room for 25-30 minutes and it was “brutal and violent” — so says Closer Magazine, which posted an article claiming to have interviewed the alleged victim.

Closer, which broke the story Brown was being investigated for rape, calls the woman by a pseudonym — Karima — a 24-year-old model who told the mag she met Brown at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Paris on January 15 at around 10:30 PM and then went to a nightclub.

Karima told Closer at 4 AM Brown and his crew wanted to return to the hotel, and she said she was tired but they convinced her to go back to the Mandarin with a group of people.

She says once inside his suite, she went to the bathroom, Brown followed her and “catches me by the right arm. He makes me enter a sort of dressing room. He closed the door … it lasted 25-30 minutes.”

She describes the alleged rape as “brutal and violent.” She says she was then “abused” by one of Brown’s friends and a bodyguard.

Karima says she went to cops 2 days later, adding she was scared but ultimately decided she didn’t want Brown to “be able to do the same things to other girls.”

Someone connected to Brown tells us the singer was never alone with the alleged victim and says Chris’ girlfriend, Ammika Harris, was in the hotel room the whole time. He says there were more than 20 people in the room “hanging out” and listening to music Brown was playing on his iPhone.

We have reached out to Brown’s U.S. lawyer for a response, but so far no word back.

Kimora Lee Simmons allegedly went to battle with another driver over a primo parking spot, and in the end … they both ended up going to the cops.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ … Russell Simmons‘ ex-wife got into a dispute with a woman last week in a FedEx store parking lot in L.A., and it got physical. We’re told the ladies were arguing over a spot and shoved each other before Kimora took off.

The cops were called by the other woman — who filed a battery report against Kimora — but later in the day … Simmons contacted police and filed one of her own against the lady.

We’re told cops are looking into it and plan to pull surveillance footage of the incident.

“90 Day Fiance” star Larissa Dos Santos Lima has been hit with a domestic violence charge after allegedly attacking her husband last week.

The charge is a misdemeanor and was filed Wednesday in Vegas. The criminal complaint — obtained by TMZ — states Larissa, “Did willfully and unlawfully use force or violence against or upon the person of her spouse.”

TMZ broke the story … Larissa was arrested last Friday after she allegedly punched her estranged husband, Colt Johnson, in the face. Colt suffered a bloody lip as a result of the attack.

Johnson told cops Larissa became enraged — accusing him of cheating — after she discovered he had purchased porn. According to the police report — obtained by TMZ — Colt said Larissa had downed half a bottle of antidepressants and was suicidal.

Larissa claimed Colt was the aggressor, scratching her in the face and on her torso … but after their investigation, cops determined Larissa was the aggressor.

One of R. Kelly‘s former managers has surrendered to authorities on charges he made terroristic threats against a family of one of the singer’s alleged victims.

As TMZ first reported, Joycelyn Savage‘s father told us James Masoncalled him in May 2018, and threatened, “I’m gonna do harm to you and your family, when I see you I’m gonna get you, I’m going to f***ing kill you.”

The Henry County Sheriff’s Dept. issued an arrest warrant last August for felony terroristic threats and acts and, Friday morning, Mason turned himself in.

He was released on $ 10,000 bond.

Joycelyn Savage has said she is not being held against her will, but her parents firmly believed their daughter has been brainwashed and they have mounted a full-court press to free her.

Mariah Carey‘s former assistant has just fired back at the singer’s blackmail allegation with her own lawsuit, claiming she was the victim of horrible abuse by one of Mariah’s key people, and the singer did nothing about it.

Lianna Azarian claims in a new lawsuit, Mariah’s former manager, Stella Bulochnikov committed various acts of abuse, including slapping her butt and breasts, urinating on her, tackling her to the ground and sitting on her. Azarian also claims Stella called her the n-word, and a “f***ing Armenian whore.”

According to the lawsuit, Azarian says Stella ridiculed her breasts, “including placing objects under her breasts such as iPhones, television remote controls and utensils.”

Azarian claims a lot of the alleged abuse occurred in Mariah’s presence and she did nothing.

TMZ broke the story … Mariah sued Azarian, claiming she secretly videotaped embarrassing and intimate activities and then blackmailed after Mariah fired her … saying if she didn’t get $ 8 million she’d release the videos.

Azarian is suing Mariah, Stella and others.

We reached out to Stella and are waiting for a comment. And, we reached out to Mariah’s folks … so far, no word back.

The man charged in the kidnapping of 13-year-old Jayme Closs and the murder of her parents showed his face in court Monday, as cops said he planned the crime for weeks.

21-year-old Jake Patterson appeared by video in a Wisconsin courthouse. He did not enter a plea and his bail was set at $ 5 million. According to the criminal complaint … Patterson made up his mind to abduct Jayme when he saw her getting on a school bus.

According to prosecutors, Patterson said, “He knew that was the girl he was going to take.” He allegedly went to the Closs’ home twice before Jayme’s parents were killed and she was kidnapped on Oct. 15. The last time was one week prior, and he was scared off because the family had several guests.

According to docs, Patterson shot Jayme’s father at the front door while she and her mother hid in the bathroom. He eventually broke down the bathroom door, bound and gagged Jayme, then fatally shot her mother.

While she was held captive, Jayme says Patterson made her hide under his twin-sized bed if he had any guests. She said his father frequently visited. She also says Patterson threatened, “bad things would happen to her” if she let anyone know she was there.

Closs was able to escape her captor last week about 70 miles north of her Wisconsin hometown. She was reunited with her aunt, and Patterson was arrested shortly afterward.

Patterson’s facing 2 counts of first degree intentional homicide, 1 count of kidnapping and an additional charge of armed burglary. He faces life in prison if convicted on all counts.